MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Somali National Army (SNA) and UN peacekeeping troops regained control of the base after Islamist fighters launched the deadly overnight attack in the village of Laanta Buuro, Somalia’s Shabelle Media Network quoted residents as saying.
The network cited an al-Shabaab statement published on pro-militant websites as claiming that they had seized 10 military pick-up trucks during the raid, which occurred 50 miles northwest of the country’s capital.
Other Mogadishu-based outlets could only confirm the death of one soldier and the hijacking of nine vehicles.
Al-Shabaab seeks to overthrow the Somali government and impose a strict version of Islam in the east African country. The group has claimed responsibility for numerous terrorist attacks in Somalia and on border towns in Kenya.
